In 1853, the New York Times ran a profile on Northup, a free man kidnapped in the 1840s, sold into slavery, and then rescued 12 years later. That story was eventually made into the Oscar winning film 12 Years A Slave.
But some particularly observant readers noticed that the 1853 article spelled Northup’s name wrong, on two different occasions.
The article was corrected, 161 years later.
Watch video above for more.
More Must-Reads From TIME
- Jane Fonda Champions Climate Action for Every Generation
- Biden’s Campaign Is In Trouble. Will the Turnaround Plan Work?
- Why We're Spending So Much Money Now
- The Financial Influencers Women Actually Want to Listen To
- Breaker Sunny Choi Is Heading to Paris
- Why TV Can’t Stop Making Silly Shows About Lady Journalists
- The Case for Wearing Shoes in the House
- Want Weekly Recs on What to Watch, Read, and More? Sign Up for Worth Your Time
Write to Francesca Trianni at francesca.trianni@time.com